the present time thereis no evidence of residual diseasein either of the thyroid cancer patients. Table 7 presents limited information relevant to the diagnosis of the-cancers in the Comparison group, but all 8 cases have been described in 6. In attempting to determine whether there has been an increase in cancer deaths in either the exposed or Comparison population one should note a Radiation Effects Research Foundation report on the Japanese exposed to atomic bombing. From 1950 to 1985, there had been 5936 cancer deaths among 75991 persons in the LSS (Life Span Study) cohort. Three hundred and forty of the cancer deaths (6% of the total cancer deaths) are thought to be attributable to the 1945 radiation exposure (Preston and greater detail in this or earlier BNL reports. 3. The most frequent lethal cancers in the United States are lung, breast, colon and leukemia/- lymphoma. 4, Areas where healthcareis limited often have increased mortality from noncancerousdisease, and an increase in cancer incidence has been viewed as evidence of improved overall health of some populations because it reflects improvements in longevity. Pierce, 1988). The small size of the exposed and 5. Table 7 lists only deaths that might have been related to cancer. There have been two cases of thyroid cancer that have been diagnosed. The thyroid cancers, discussed elsewhere in this report, have not been a cause of death, and at Comparison Marshallese groups, the smaller numberof cancer deaths, and naturally occurring fluctuations in disease incidence will make statistical detection of any excess cancer mortality impossible in these populations. TABLE 7: POSSIBLE CANCER DEATHS IN THE RONGELAP EXPOSED AND COMPARISON (UNEXPOSED) POPULATION ID# Year of Death Age at Death Years on Rongelap* Cancer Type A. COMPARISON GROUP 842 1986 61 ? Hepatoma Confirmation Not available 846 1986 63 Leukemia Yes ‘861 1960 68 Cervix No. Normal pelvic exam in 3/59, 889 1980 55 975 1985 65 1005 1984 51 1050 1985 50 20** - ? Colon No 1571 1982 28 O**t* Astrocytoma Yes 2 Ovary Yes. B. RONGELAP EXPOSED 62 1959 60 2 2 Breast Yes ? Lymphoma “Atypical lymphoepithelioid proliferation” Lung Yes (Smoker) 30 1962 60 5 Cervix No _ 13 1966 71 9 Uterus No (BA 1972 19 7 Leukemia Yes 68 1974 64 16 Stomach Yes * Years of residence on Rongelap after rehabitation of Rongelap island in 1957, as recorded in the medical records of the Marshall Island Medical Program or from personalhistory. ** Added to Comparison group in 1964; did not live on Rongelap between 1957 and 1964 *** Added to Comparison group in 1976; residence prior to 1976 is not recorded. 19